The Rings of Power

Author: * ReLari Burgundian - 8 Posts on this thread out of 205 Posts sitewide.
Date: Mar 30, 2004 - 06:17

In the second age of Middle earth, elevn jewel smiths led by Celebrimbor and aided by Sauron forged a number of Rings of Power. The most important of these Rings are mentioned in the verse inscription on Sauron's ring.

three rings for the elven kings,
seven for the dwarf lords,
nine for Mortal Men,
one for the Dark Lord of Mordor,
"One Ring to rule them all."
Although the elven jewel smiths used knowlege gained from Sauron to make the Rings, Elrond informs us that three elven
rings_Vilya, worn by Elrond
Nenya, worn by Galadriel
Narya the Great, worn by Gandalf
"were not made by Sauron, nor did he ever touch them" The elves never touched Sauron's ring. It was forged in secret in the Mountain of Fire (Mount Doom) by Sauron himself. Sauron did have a hand in forging the Rings of the Dwarves and humans. As a result they had a power to corrupt that the elven Rings did not.
The Rings created by Sauron were designed to give the posseser wealth and dominion over others. This is not the purpose of the elven rings according to Elrond. "Those who made them did not desire strength or dominioation or hoarded wealth, but understanding, making, and healing, to preserve all things unstained".
The elves were the first rational incarnate creatures created by Iluvatar (The supreme God of middle earth). They are reffered to as "Firstborn." Humans were created later and are called "Followers." The most signifigant difference is that the elves are immortal while humans are mortal.